Woods will play the Masters

Augusta, GA (SportsNetwork.com) - Tiger Woods announced on his website Friday that he will play the Masters, where he has won four times.

"I'm playing in the Masters. It's obviously very important to me, and I want to be there," Woods said on his website. "I've worked a lot on my game and I'm looking forward to competing. I'm excited to get to Augusta and I appreciate everyone's support."

Woods has played just two events in 2015. He missed the cut at the Phoenix Open after struggling to a second-round 82. The following week, Woods withdrew during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open as his back acted up.

After being checked out by doctors, it was determined that the back issue Woods dealt with in San Diego was not related to his 2014 back surgery. That surgery forced Woods to miss the Masters for the first time as a professional. He played just nine tournaments last year, seven of which were official PGA Tour events.

Woods has not played since the Farmers Insurance Open in early February. He has been working on his game after struggling with his chipping in Phoenix.

"The last two weeks have been very disappointing to me, especially Torrey, because I never want to withdraw," Woods said after withdrawing at Torrey Pines. "Unfortunately, lately injuries have made that happen too often."

Woods later stated that he wouldn't return until his game was tournament- ready. He was not be eligible for the WGC-Cadillac Championship and skipped the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which he has won eight times.

The 14-time major champion has withdrawn twice in his last four official PGA Tour starts and missed the cut in the other two. Woods last made the cut at the Open Championship, where he tied for 69th.

Woods has broken par in just one of his last seven rounds, and in only three of the last 17 overall. The last time Woods finished under par in a PGA Tour event was at the 2013 BMW Championship.

The 39-year-old has 79 career titles on the PGA Tour, but none since winning five times in 2013 on the way to his 11th Player of the Year award. He has not claimed a major championship since winning his 14th at the 2008 U.S. Open and remains four shy of Jack Nicklaus' all-time record.